Kia - Pro_Cee'd - Miscellaneous Documents - (2006)

Ex_Ceed all Expectations MotorMadness Ian Lamming drives the Kia Pro_Cee’d 1.0 T-GDI W ANT to know the definition of irony? It’s this… A little red hatchback from Korea is better in the floods than a mighty mud-plugger. Why? Because modest models are mortal so the driver takes care, errs on the side of caution. Formidable four by fours, it seems, come without any common sense and an inflated idea of their invincibility. So the stricken X5 that thought it could part the waters like Moses now drowns up to the windows in Cumbrian floods. If the driver had bothered to look, somewhere in the specification, there would be a maximum wading depth that is measured in inches – not feet! What the owner of the Bentley thought as he disappeared beneath the waves like a submarine only Neptune knows? Until that point the Kia Pro_Cee’d GT had done rather well. It had sidestepped the deluge with aplomb thanks to a natty satnav that revealed otherwise hidden back lanes. It had plumbed the depths with aplomb setting up a useful bow-wave that only once came over the bonnet and bubbling air furiously out of the exhaust rather than inhaling it into the engine. But the ford, with a lower case f of course, was always going to be a bridge-less too far so high ground was sort to leave the sporty three door hatch and shank’s pony took over for the last two miles, through above-the-knee-deep murk with a seven year old on my back – what a hero. The following day levels had subsided and the grand GT was more than man enough to tackle the aftermath of another winter storm. Surprising and impressive, which just about sums up the Pro_Cee’d GT. The beautiful hot-hatch joins the GT family but this time is powered by an amazing three cylinder 1.0 litre than turns out a lusty 120HP. This offers more than nippy performance and great economy and emissions in a characterful, delightful and engaging way. Not everyone needs or requires the 200+PS of its mightier sibling, nor the extra insurance premiums. So the 1.0 is the perfect compromise, still offering an exhilarating ride but at considerably less expense. The rest remains the same; fabulously sporty looks, stunning interior, razor sharp dynamics and fantastic specification. Pro_Cee’d is a GreaT car in every way in fact some might say that it walks on water not disappears beneath it. Fact File • Kia Pro_ Cee’d 1.0 T-GDI • Engine: 1.0 litre turbo petrol • Power: 120PS • Top speed: 118mph • Combined miles per gallon: 57.6 • Transmission: sixspeed manual • CO2 g/km: 120